Earlier this week the White House said it would pledge $35 million in aid, an amount quickly dismissed by a U.N. official as stingy.

Washington officials said Friday they were raising their pledge to $350 million, CNN reported. That increase raises to $800 million the total amount committed by the international community to support the 11 nations devastated by the tsunamis.

The director of the U.S. Agency for International Development told CNN the initial $35 million pledge was only the first step in U.S. aid to the countries that were devastated by Sunday's earthquake and tsunamis.

"The money was committed on Sunday when the emergency took place," Andrew Natsios said. "It's action on the ground that is needed. We will get more than enough money from the president and I'm sure Congress later on when we need it."